Accidents can happen anywhere at any time and typically result in some level of damage and even injuries. Sometimes accidents are caused by malicious intent, but most often accidents are caused by a grievous oversight. Either way, it is important to note that accidents rarely just happen, they are caused by someone’s careless actions.
When it comes to facing the serious damages and injuries that can result from an accident, you have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party or their insurance providers. Here is where a professional Lancaster personal injury lawyer can provide tremendous support in navigating the complexities of personal injury law to arrive at the compensation you deserve.
Call the Crockett Law Group today to schedule your free consultation with the best personal injury law firm near Lancaster, California.
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What Should I Do After an Injury?
If you have been involved in an accident, it is only natural to feel a measure of confusion and bewilderment. But it will be very important to keep cool and remember the following pointers. Keeping these important notes in mind can allow you to preserve the integrity of your case and increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.Get Medical Attention
Your injuries can be great or small, but only a medical professional will be able to precisely diagnose the injuries you have sustained and create a plan for recovery. Sometimes injuries sustained in an accident can escape detection till much later. This is why it is important to have your injuries fully examined.Collect Evidence If You Can
A strong case is built on evidence and this must be collected as quickly as possible. Be sure to collect all the bits of evidence that you can. Including parking stubs, receipts, and plenty of photos of the scene of the accident and the various elements that contributed to the accident and injury.Talk to Witnesses
If there are people in the vicinity who saw the incident which took place, be sure to get their names and contact information. Their testimony may be critical to establishing what happened.Report the Incident
The accident must be reported to the proper authorities. If you are injured at work, you will need to report your injuries to the supervisor. Traffic accidents should be reported to the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station and injuries sustained from dog bites must be reported to Los Angeles County animal control. The authorities responding to the accident will typically make a report on the incident which will play an important role in the case.Do Not Admit Fault!
Accidents can happen all of a sudden and you may not even be fully aware of what has happened. In your confusion and emotional upset, you may be urged to say or do things that jeopardize the validity of your case and claim. A simple comment like “Sorry!” can be taken as an admission of guilt.Call a Personal Injury Lawyer
Even though you have a right to compensation, exercising this right is never quite that simple. You will need the experience and perspective of a top-notch personal injury lawyer to pursue the case and recover rightful compensation.Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
When pursuing a personal injury claim, it helps to have a knowledgeable expert on your side when facing the unscrupulous insurance adjusters of the opposition. Here are some of the ways a personal injury lawyer can help ensure that your rights are protected:Case Preparation / Filing a Lawsuit
If you have never done this before you will find that making a case and compiling a lawsuit is pretty tricky. There are details and time constraints to consider, and without a deep understanding of the minutiae of personal law, your case can be exposed to danger. But our experienced personal injury law firm has done this many times and can craft a strong case that stands strong in negotiations and court battles.Settlement Negotiation
Most often the case will reach a settlement out of court. Negotiations with the opposition will attempt to reach a suitable resolution. But the opposition will be looking for every way possible to avoid making payments and protecting their interests. Your Lancaster personal injury lawyer will respond to protect your interests and ensure that you are given reasonable compensation for the injuries you have suffered.
Trial Preparation
If no resolution can be reached in negotiations, your case will have to be taken to court. Personal injury lawyer Kevin Crockett has plenty of experience defending the interests of our valued clients. We will do all in our power to turn the wheels of justice in your favor.What Kind of Damages Can I Collect in a California Personal Injury Case?
In the state of California, damages available for victims of personal injury can be calculated into different categories. The first and most important category is called “compensatory” damages and includes two different categories of damages:Special Damages
Also called economic damages, special damages can easily be calculated from medical bills and other financial records. Special damages are meant to cover the past, present, and future costs of medical bills and treatment and to pay back wages lost from time spent off work or loss of earning capacity.General Damages
Also called “pain & suffering” or “non-economic” damages, these damages cover the things that can’t be tallied into a financial figure quite so easily. This can include anguish, loss of consortium, loss of capacity to enjoy life, pain & suffering, and other damages. Expert opinion will be called to help provide a financial figure for these damages.Punitive Damages
These damages are included for the expressed purpose of punishing the at-fault party for actions that are considered intolerable or especially egregious.How Is Fault Determined in California?
California law applies the concept of “comparative negligence” when determining who is at fault in a personal injury case. This means that compensation can still be sought for injuries sustained in an accident even if the victim shares responsibility for the events that led up to the accident and subsequent injuries. This will also decide how much compensation the injured party should receive. In other words, if the victim of the accident was 10% responsible for the incident that occurred, they will only be eligible for 90% of the compensation they should otherwise receive. For example, if the injured party was hit by a car while they were jogging, their injuries may come out to $10,000 in damages. But if the jury finds out that the injured party was jogging on the road — not the sidewalk — while listening to music on headphones, they may decide that the injured party was 10% responsible for the accident and reduce their compensation by 10%. In the end, the victim will only be eligible for $9,000.How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in California?
It is important to get started on your case and claim as soon as you possibly can if you hope for the best chances of success. If you don’t move fast, you may lose your right to compensation altogether. Like most states, the state of California has a time limit for making your personal injury claim, called the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations for making a personal injury claim in California is 2 years from the date of the accident and subsequent injuries.How Much Will a Lancaster Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
It’s impossible to predict when accidents will happen, and very few people have an emergency fund set aside to deal with these situations as they come. At the Crockett Law Group, we fully understand the implications of being the victim of an accident. There are serious concerns about medical bills and lost wages and the very last thing someone suffering from injuries needs is to consider the high costs of professional legal aid. For this reason, we offer our professional legal services on a contingency fee basis. This means we will not charge you a thing for our initial consultation, filing the claim, performing the investigations, or even taking your case to court. As a matter of fact, unless we win the case and get you the compensation you deserve, we will not charge you at all. We shoulder the high costs of building a strong case, including calling in expert witnesses, recreating the scene of the accident, and all other factors that go into a strong case. This provides us with great motivation to win your case and recover our earnings as well.
